Key points:

Opposition Defence spokesman says Australia has a "direct interest" in building up local forces

Labor says they are likely to be briefed by the Government on request later this week

But one leading defence and security analyst has questioned whether there is a "meaningful" strategy behind the request, that will make a difference in the war-torn country.

"While there is a strong imperative for Australia to contribute to the alliance in Afghanistan, it would be very helpful if there was a clear and compelling strategy that saw us move beyond the strategy that for the last 16 years has not got us very far," Professor John Blaxland from the Australian National University (ANU) told AM.

"The enduring problems in Afghanistan resolve around corruption, around what's happening in Pakistan that's outside of the reach of the forces in Afghanistan, and particularly in relation to poppy production and the revenue that comes from that, that goes in a large extent to the Taliban."

The head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at ANU said a simple surge in troop numbers would not address those challenges, and the Government would be better off focusing its attention closer to home.

"We know that in South-East Asia we have seen a spike in terrorism, we have seen it in southern Philippines, we've seen it in Jakarta, we've seen it in Malaysia and we've seen it in Thailand, and yet in Australia few people think about those countries as being fundamental to our security," Professor Blaxland said.

Attorney-General George Brandis has set up a new forum to discuss counter-terrorism with his South-East Asian counterparts, but Professor Blaxland said the military needed to do more.

"I know the Defence Force is looking to reinvest in that space, but the siren calls of the Middle East make it very difficult for the ADF to commit its best and brightest people to learn the languages, to build the networks, to establish the context and to hone the capabilities in our neighbourhood," he said.

He said the Government would be acting in the interests of its alliance with the United States, because the US relies on South-East Asia remaining relatively stable and secure.

Australia 'can't afford to see Afghanistan lost'

Australia currently has about 270 defence and civilian personnel in Afghanistan whose main focus is on training local forces.

Opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles said Labor was likely to be briefed by the Government on the request this week.

He told Sky News that given some of the Bali bombers were trained in Afghanistan, Australia had a "direct interest" to build up local forces.

"It is the case that Al -Qaeda is having a greater presence in that country, ISIS also is present there, the country is experiencing an insurgency and the circumstances on the ground are becoming more difficult," he said.

"We can't afford to see Afghanistan lost and it is important that we focus on that."